To kick off Pride month, Fresno County has adopted a family ‘Tradition’ month

While the LGBTQ+ community and allies are celebrating June as pride month across the country, one community in Central California has been living a different reality.

After a 3-2 vote on June 16 by the Board of Supervisors, Fresno County recognized June as “Traditional Nuclear Family Month,” declaring that the nuclear family unit is “God’s perfect design” that aligns with Fresno’s “traditional” values.

But for people like Supervisor Luis Chavez, who was elected to the board in November 2024 and has said he will take over as chairman next year, last month’s vote was an irony that shouldn’t be repeated, he said.

For Chavez, he said, the decision was personal. She and her family have opened their home to foster children for the past seven years.

“We found children who were not accepted into homes because they identified as gay, gay and we actually have an unborn child living with us, and, it saddened me because this language excluded the wonderful parents we have who just happen to be LGBTQ,” he said.

Chavez said he is the only Fresno County supervisor to attend this year’s Fresno Pride Parade, a celebration that brings 20,000 people to the city’s Tower District. For someone who attended the ceremony a week earlier, the decision proposed by board chairman Garry Bredefeld was divisive, not unifying.

“No one is against this unquoted traditional family quote, I think a lot of people are getting away with that,” Chavez said. “The language that was used was just non-engagement and made it a point to discriminate and there was a feeling that we would not see LGBTQ people in our community.”

Bredefeld introduced the resolution after the governors of Tennessee and Indiana signed proclamations declaring June “Nuclear Family Month” in their states.

“I think the LGBT movement is trying to force its agenda on other people, and this was a way to say, ‘Hey, look, you can have your show and your month, but we’re also going to recognize traditional families as well,'” Bredefeld said.

When it came time to vote in the first place, not all managers agreed completely. Director Nathan Magsig moved to amend the resolution to add language recognizing single parents, grandparents and foster parents.

“I think that as a society, we should pay attention to what is in the best interests of our children and future generations, but also know at the same time, that things happen in life,” said Magsig.

Magsig’s amendment was accepted. But when Chavez asked for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ parents, he was denied – cementing his “no” vote on the decision. Another dissenting vote came from Supervisor Brian Pacheco, who declined to comment.

Finally, the decision defined the traditional nuclear family as “one husband, one wife and any children born, adopted, or raised by other people” and said that “single mothers and fathers, grandparents, adoptive parents, and those parents who have the right to joint custody of children” are “very important in raising healthy children and are recognized for their sacrifice, hard work and dedication.”

Advocates say that for LGBTQ+ residents of the region, the vote could be seen as another example of discrimination against them.

“It’s scary,” said Jorge Reyes Salinas, director of communications for Equality California. “It’s scary for anyone who doesn’t fit this mold that some people believe is a mold that should be in society.”

The decision sparked a heated debate during the meeting’s deliberations, with many people speaking quietly or arguing. One woman argued that every month should be a family month, while another said that many other things, such as health care, should come first.

Bredefeld said his reason for moving forward with this decision was not to deprive anyone who wants to celebrate Pride.

Instead, he said, he wants to celebrate traditional families, too.

Chavez, as a member of the regional administration, said this is not the way to use their platform.

“Pretending they don’t exist, that hurts our children, because it sends them the message that they don’t deserve to be recognized by the government because they are who they are,” said Chavez.

Reyes Salinas echoes that sentiment.

“I think, now more than ever, communities and voters need to pay attention, and we need to see our leaders for who they really are,” said Reyes Salinas.

There is disagreement among the management as to whether this decision was final or was made last month. Bredefeld affirms that every June going forward will be “Traditional Nuclear Family Month,” although the resolution did not include language saying it would be every year going forward.

With that in mind, Chavez said he plans to resist any pressure next year to make another decision, when he says he is expected to become the chairman of the board.

“Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” Chavez said.